NATHAN ULLAH

"Something which will stay with me for my entire life"

I started off a near novice when I first took your ten week course and learnt so much from you. Not only did I learn how to control my camera and make it do what I want to do but I also learnt about composition and how to structure a photo. Working in a group environment with other new learners also meant we could see other peoples work and take inspiration from that too. Overall the course was a great experience and one which still benefits me now (I often still refer to handouts etc you gave us for reference) nearly two years later. I returned to England in September 2011 and thanks to the course photography is not only something I did while in Shanghai but something which will stay with me for my entire life.

 

CHING WEN TAN

If you have ever seen a group of people around a trash bin in Shanghai taking pictures, that was most likely Franc and his students. 

If you want to learn about photography AND have a lot of fun, Franc is the perfect teacher. He is a very passionate and professional teacher who is able to teach you all the best tricks and tips. What was most valuable to me was how he taught me how to look at things differently. If you have ever seen a group of people around a trash bin in Shanghai taking pictures, that was most likely Franc and his students. Because he sees the beauty in unusual subjects, you will be amazed how photogenic trash bins are. 

He is very patient and will always answer your questions. Even after the course he would reply your email in case you want to know something. 

His course made it possible to document my life in great pictures.

 

LIAM

"After 10 weeks, my whole outlook for this passion has changed, and all because of one man.......Franc"

I have been keen to learn photography for a long time, and always thought i was good with a compact camera. I went on to buy a DSLR camera, not realizing that i had no idea at all how to use it!
So there came a time in my life where my days became free, and i joined Francs class at an Expat Learning Center. This was a 10 week course of 2.5 hours a week.
Within the second lesson, my understanding of my camera was made so easily and clear, that my pictures had already become a complete different style.

After the third lesson, i became a professional... (ok, not quite!)

After 10 weeks, my whole outlook for this passion has changed, and all because of one man.......Franc.
He teaches in such a way that its the highlight of the week, funny, interesting, and he clearly has so much passion with his job, it shines through with his teaching.
The fact that he is willing to give away all his secrets, no matter how long its taken him to learn, he thrives on the pupil being the best he / she can be.

He is completely open to any questions, at any time,

and is also just the nicest guy (ok, his English is about 95% correct, but the 5% he gets wrong is so entertaining!) (so is his ponytail)
His teaching has completely changed my perspective on the way i see things, my surroundings, other peoples pictures, magazines layouts, camera shots in films.........you will be amazed at what you "don’t see" in normal everyday life.
On top of this, he also takes pupils on field trips, and does private classes in his own time.
His knowledge of all camera brands is amazing,

and he will often suggest lenses etc when he understands what kind of photography you want to do.

I personally must be a nightmare, as I am always asking questions, and want to photograph everything, close, far, moving, still....you name it! (Believe it or not, there is not 1 lens that does all that!)
In no way did it ever feel like a class, as it was just so much fun to do......if you are reading this, please, don’t think, get on board, its one of the best decisions you will ever make.
The pictures i now take are extraordinary, and i have a clear understanding of how i want the picture to come out, and the knowledge to do it.

 

RUSS YOUNG

What can you say about the man with

the Inspector Clouseau accent?*

For those who are thinking of having lessons

with Franc:

When I joined the first, beginners class,

I never expected to gain as much from it as I did.

That's why I signed up for the second, advanced

class, with Franc.

I'm a big believer of, "if you enjoy something

you will get a huge amount out of it", school

of thought. And believe me, I got a LOT out of

the lessons!

Franc is a very humorous, friendly, informative

and professional chap.

His lessons are structured and full of content while

also being relaxed and funny at the same time.

He uses the word "tack or dack" a lot, which we all had a laugh at as we didn't quite understand what he was saying but, somehow, we all understood what it meant.

He taught us,from the beginning, how to set up our cameras, then how to use light, perspective, speed etc. We shot high speed water shots, model shots and painting with light shots. All very informative!

It gave me a much greater understanding of how to compose and use light to get much better pictures in the future. I hope Franc sets up some further classes as I will not hesitate to book with him.

Great bloke, great teacher.

 

JEAN-BAPTISTE DURET

Franc is a good teacher in that he makes the technical aspects appear simple and manageable to anyone. 

I could talk for a long time about what I got (and continue getting) out of Franc’s classes. To sum it up, I can say that Franc helped changed forever my attitude and my perception toward photography and the world I live in. After the course I’m not looking at people and my environment the same. I will talk about three aspects that were decisive in my approach of photography.

Before I took the course, I had read information about technical aspects in books or on the Internet, and it had helped me understand a few things about cameras and lenses. I could honestly say “I know it” when someone mentioned the aperture or the shutter speed effects. But truth is that I didn’t really know how to connect them together and they often appeared complex and daunting.

Franc is a good teacher in that he makes the technical aspects appear simple and manageable to anyone. He gives you all the theoretical information you need, in a clear and articulate way that connects all the technical aspects together. He knows to explain it in different ways, which shows that he really knows what he’s talking about. Thus, Franc gave me solid theoretical and technical foundations about photography and about my own material (camera and lenses). During the class I learned how to use all that for specific results and purposes. After the class you know the influence of each of the settings on each other to help you make the best choices according to your own material, your intention and your personal sensitivity. And what’s amazing is that once you are familiar with them, you don’t have to think about them anymore, they become second nature and you can just enjoy what you came there for, taking better pictures.

Then, there was this aspect of light. I thought that because you have eyes you see the light and the shadows like everybody else. And I often got frustrated when the picture didn’t seem to look the same as what I "saw". During the class, when Franc was telling us about the best light in the room, he often pointed out to us who was sitting at this best place, and explaining us what he saw and why it was interesting for a picture. I could clearly “see” that I wasn’t really seeing what he was talking about. Prompted by his regular mentions about light and shadow, I began to pay attention to them upon people and objects, looking at where it came from and the differences of lights at different times of the day. One day I had the surprise to actually see the lights and the shadows in the street and stopped to appreciate them. I was not blind anymore. Now, they were not just something that you had to get rid off (too much light, too much shadow). With Franc you learn that you can use them to get better results out of your pictures, and he teaches you simple but efficient tricks to find the best place in the room where the light will enhance the person or your subject.

Influenced by his experience as a photo journalist, Franc also encouraged us to be bold and curious, and to move around our subjects. Our subjects are often not flat, and even if they are, like a wall, they exist in an environment that is not. With his suggestions on the field during the outdoor photoshoots, and in class while doing picture review, I learned that because I was tall I was seeing the world in a certain way which was different than someone who was shorter even if just a few inches. I began to not only move around but also try higher or lower points of view, which was a revelation about how light reflects on the ground to light up people, and that changing point of view also changed how I saw the light and the shadows on the subjects and the environment.

In conclusion, Franc not only taught me the technical parts that make me able to use my camera to the best of its potential, but he also taught me to think as a photographer in terms of light and settings, and to make the best use at any time of what I had at my disposal in terms of material and environment. I really understood that photography is not just about pushing a button, it is also a matter of preparation, attitude, and creativity. Being more confident about the technical aspects, I can now explore more freely my own interests and expressions.